FROM SPORTING NEWS
Snowstorms are playing havoc with sports events in the Northeast. How bad are things in three NFL cities where snow is falling in record amounts? Check out these reports (all times listed are ET):
In Baltimore, per the Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun:
Snowstorms are playing havoc with sports events in the Northeast. How bad are things in three NFL cities where snow is falling in record amounts? Check out these reports (all times listed are ET):
In Baltimore, per the Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun:
After two days of travel difficulties for the Chicago Bears, the Ravens are scheduled to kick off against the late-arriving NFC North team at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, an NFL official said.
A record snowstorm for this area and airplane troubles forced the Bears to rearrange their schedule Friday and Saturday. Their flight took off shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday and was scheduled to arrive at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at 11 p.m., only 17 hours before kickoff in what is a critical game for the Ravens' playoff hopes.
About 700 workers, who stayed at M&T Bank Stadium's club suites Friday night and Saturday night, pushed the massive amount of snow from the top of the stadium down to the field, where it was hauled and dumped into a nearby waterway. The field and stadium will be ready for kickoff for the team's final regular-season home game, Ravens vice president of operations Bob Eller confirmed.
The Bears (5-8) tried to avoid the weather and fly out a day early, but the team's flight Friday night was canceled because of a mechanical problem, a source told the Chicago Tribune. An attempt to change planes was called off when the window to arrive safely in Baltimore had closed. According to the Tribune, the Bears didn't arrive back at their facility until 1:15 a.m. Saturday.
Chicago's attempts to fly into Baltimore on Saturday were hampered by the heavy snowfall. The winter storm closed BWI in the afternoon, which delayed the Bears' departure to around 9 p.m. Eastern.
In Philadelphia, according to Philly.com:A record snowstorm for this area and airplane troubles forced the Bears to rearrange their schedule Friday and Saturday. Their flight took off shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday and was scheduled to arrive at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at 11 p.m., only 17 hours before kickoff in what is a critical game for the Ravens' playoff hopes.
About 700 workers, who stayed at M&T Bank Stadium's club suites Friday night and Saturday night, pushed the massive amount of snow from the top of the stadium down to the field, where it was hauled and dumped into a nearby waterway. The field and stadium will be ready for kickoff for the team's final regular-season home game, Ravens vice president of operations Bob Eller confirmed.
The Bears (5-8) tried to avoid the weather and fly out a day early, but the team's flight Friday night was canceled because of a mechanical problem, a source told the Chicago Tribune. An attempt to change planes was called off when the window to arrive safely in Baltimore had closed. According to the Tribune, the Bears didn't arrive back at their facility until 1:15 a.m. Saturday.
Chicago's attempts to fly into Baltimore on Saturday were hampered by the heavy snowfall. The winter storm closed BWI in the afternoon, which delayed the Bears' departure to around 9 p.m. Eastern.
Thanks to the pre-Christmas blizzard of 2009, the game against the San Francisco 49ers has been moved from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. The parking lots open at noon and the stadium gates open at 3 p.m. The Eagles are encouraging fans to use public transportation.
"In anticipation of the storm and as a public safety concern, the change was made to accommodate fans and allow more time for city and stadium personnel to clear streets and walkways in and around the stadium," the Eagles said in a statement.
The change might most benefit the 49ers. When playing games at 1 p.m., which is 10 a.m. in San Francisco, the 49ers are 0-4. When playing at 1 p.m. Pacific Coast Time or later, they are 5-3.
In Washington, per Jason Reid of the Washington Post:"In anticipation of the storm and as a public safety concern, the change was made to accommodate fans and allow more time for city and stadium personnel to clear streets and walkways in and around the stadium," the Eagles said in a statement.
The change might most benefit the 49ers. When playing games at 1 p.m., which is 10 a.m. in San Francisco, the 49ers are 0-4. When playing at 1 p.m. Pacific Coast Time or later, they are 5-3.
The Redskins say they will remove what they estimate to be 25 million pounds of snow from FedEx Field ahead of the team's "Monday Night Football" game against the New York Giants.
The team said in a release that it planned to bring in more than 1,200 workers to clear snow from the seats and stands, ramps, sidewalks and parking lots. The Redskins had sent staff members to Buffalo last weekend to meet with Bills officials, who know a thing or two about snow removal, at work. Team and FedEx officials also consulted the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh for advice on how to remove large quantities of snow quickly and efficiently, the Redskins say.
Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. Monday.
In Buffalo, known for raging lake-effect snowstorms, temperatures are expected to be below freezing for Sunday's Patriots-Bills game. The kicker? snow is not forecast.
The team said in a release that it planned to bring in more than 1,200 workers to clear snow from the seats and stands, ramps, sidewalks and parking lots. The Redskins had sent staff members to Buffalo last weekend to meet with Bills officials, who know a thing or two about snow removal, at work. Team and FedEx officials also consulted the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh for advice on how to remove large quantities of snow quickly and efficiently, the Redskins say.
Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. Monday.